The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-19
KALLAHER In CHANCERY,
All ACCOUNTING ASKED FOR by AT
ToRNEY GENERAL PETERS.
A Bill Which Minces Not Upon Words,
But Calls Things by Their Proper
Namo Stealing is Stealing, and Rob
berry Is Robbery.

In the chanccry court yesterday AttOr-
ncy General Peters, for the State OF Ten
ncsscc, filed hill against Pat .kallahcr,
wharimaslcr Of the Taxing District. The
bill goes on TO rccitc that il is the duty ol
the attorney general oi the local district 10
proceed against officers Of the Taxing Dis.
trict and enforce all remedies civilly and
crimmally, just %, in the case of state Off
ccr,. II then rccitcs the fact that the po-
lice and fire commissioners OF the Taxing
District are requested TO elect wharf
master every two ycnrs, aud defines the
duty ol the official and law governing his
Ollie Fat kallahcr was the first wharf
mast appointed hy the Taxing District
government and has continuously held
the office ever since. During his term ho
has collected many thousands OF dollars,
which has not been paid over Ia the
trustee every week nor reported Ia the
fire and police commissioners, rs re
quired by law, but, on the contrary,
be has failed 10 pay over much
of the money actually collected aud
has failed 10 make collections oi wharfage
as fixed and required by law. The
amount ot such collections cannot be
definitely stated.
The hill then states that the grand jury
has been examining knllahcr's books
from 1883 10 1887, but has been unable
10 examine his books beyond lSSi, because
OF his refusal 10 show them, and his office
has never been examined by any official
body from the time of his election up 60
date. But the partial investigation now
IN progress has resulted in the finding oi
iifiy.tWo true bills OF indictment against
kallahcr Tor embczlcmcnt.
The bill then proceeds 10 state that large
and systematic discrepancies between the
amounts collected by Kallhhcr and by him
turned over 10 the county treasurer exist.
Plaintiff cannot state positively what the
rcccipts Of the whatimastcr we've beyond
1883 but believes IL was about double
what Il has been during the succeeding
years. The wharlmasicr Is also ne
quircd 10 pay over weekly all
wharfage collected by him. Instead
Of complying with the law, kallahcr enters
on his books once a year in Jumping sum
his collections from Hat boats and bargcs,
without giving the dates or names OF boats
and bargcs No collected from. This method
Of keeping books indicates great careless
ncss, II nothing more, and the wrongful
AMI Illegal holding over Of such money
renders the wharimastcr liable for interest
thereon, even " he did ultimately account
ior all; Int |, u charged that large amounts
were received and unaocountcd ior, that
them las been stealing Of thc public
moneys in The office OF Wharimasicr sys-
fcmatically and continually for years, aud
that the Taxing District has lost thereby
large amount Of revenue, aud that Fat
kallahcr IL responsible llr II, no matter
by whom this wrong and robbery has bccn
committed.
II Is impossible 10 state whether on not
knllahcr has collected wharfage from an
sources from which such collections should
b. made, and In this connection the court
Is asked 10 take the laws IT the Taxing his.
irici upon this subject, relative TO the Mates
Of Wharfage, and thc duties and liabilities
OF the Wharimnsicr, and ndjudicalo aud
ounsiuc al the rights, duties and liabili-
ties Of Fat kallahcr M whnrimasi,r.
1hcbillasksihat an accouniing be- ordered
between Fat kallnhcr and the Taxing bis.
trici, ~ 10 the conduct 81 his oilicc from
the time of his election a. the pr scnt date.
and that be- BE- rluircd 10 produce all the
books. pipyr, aud other r.corls, IN any
way connected with his official position
AMI that judgment AMI dccpc h. mccoy.
ercd against knlllhcr ior al shortage.
which may be- discovered.